NEW JERSEY– Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. New Jersey is slated to get more than $168 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements – including the $44 million that was announced as part of EPA’s announcement of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements earlier this month. This BIL funding will help communities across the state upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for New Jersey’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds totaling $101 million, Emerging Contaminant funds totaling $8.7 million, and $13.6 million in funds under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid. EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to providing safe drinking water, resources needed to upgrade aging infrastructure, and address harmful contaminants,” says EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the critical funds to our governmental partners in New Jersey to ensure water quality and reduce pollution in our waterways.”
“We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and the Environmental Protection Agency for their continued support in helping us build a cleaner and healthier Garden State through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “This newly announced funding will help New Jersey communities with the vital tasks of ensuring that everyone in New Jersey has access to clean, safe drinking water and protecting and improving water quality throughout the state. These critical investments in our environmental infrastructure will help protect our citizens from lead and forever chemicals in drinking water, support proper management of wastewater and stormwater to protect our surface and ground waters, and create good-paying jobs for New Jerseyans.”
“I am proud to join EPA in announcing a total of $168 million in federal funding to transform New Jersey’s water infrastructure and reduce lead exposure across our state, especially for the communities that need it most,” said Senator Cory Booker. “The finalization of a strong rule for lead and copper last month, along with today’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, will create thousands of jobs and drastically improve the quality of drinking water not only for New Jersey, but for the entire nation. I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued work to ensure every family, regardless of zip code, has access to clean, safe drinking water.”
“I proudly voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to rebuild our crumbling roads, expand broadband access, and ensure every American has access to clean drinking water. Now, thanks to this funding, New Jersey will receive over $168 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades,” said U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01). “Everyone deserves access to clean water, and with this new funding we’re one step closer to ensuring all New Jersey residents have access to this basic need.”
“As we continue to bring federal funding back to New Jersey from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I’m proud that we are able to make critical upgrades to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in communities where it’s needed most. These historic investments are essential to look out for the long-term health and well-being of people across our state,” said U.S. Representative Andy Kim (NJ-03).
“Clean water is a basic human right, and Americans should not have to think twice about whether lead, PFAS, or any other harmful contaminant is coming out of their tap. That’s why I fought to include funding for safe, clean water in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the $168 million that New Jersey is receiving for water infrastructure improvements comes directly from that historic legislation. As the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will always fight to ensure our communities have the resources they need to modernize our water systems, clean up drinking water, and protect our families. This is about making sure people in New Jersey can trust the water they use and rely on every day,” said U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06).
“Once again, the Biden-Harris Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency are fulfilling their promise to invest in our communities, protect our families, and combat climate change,” said U.S. Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “From clean, safe drinking water to updated, resilient infrastructure, New Jersey — and all of the people who call our great state home — are benefitting from this new funding.”
“Clean water is not just a resource, it’s a lifeline for our communities. This significant and needed federal investment will fund critical projects throughout New Jersey to strengthen our water infrastructure and safeguard the wellbeing of families,” said U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). “Critically, much of this appropriation will be used to benefit communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution. ”
“This is fantastic news,” said U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). “This $168 million investment in clean water infrastructure will make a huge difference in the lives of New Jerseyans. In my District especially, Trenton has long faced challenges with outdated lead pipes, leading to water contamination and long-term negative health effects. The $44 million included in this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted by the Biden-Harris Administration will go directly to replacing hazardous lead pipes. I’m so grateful to the EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration for making these crucial investments in our communities.”
“New Jersey applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protecting the health of our kids and communities, and our precious water resources by promoting the replacement of lead service lines, removal of forever chemicals from our waters, and continued improvements to our wastewater and stormwater systems,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection. “Under the leadership of Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey’s implementation of the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan to facilitate progress in meeting these ambitious and necessary goals has been bolstered by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, creating jobs across the state delivering clean water and better protecting public health and the state’s waters. We thank President Biden, Vice-President Harris, US EPA Administrator Regan, and our federal partners for their unwavering support in this important work.”
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inh
